3 Spectacular Ideas To Help Enhance The Value, Look, And Feel of Your New Build

Many essentials go into a modern new home build, which can be overwhelming. As a result, we risk getting stuck in traditional home thinking – we don't know what we don't know – or in how the house will look, rather than with how it will make us feel, in terms of mood and energy, or with how it will function, i.e. internet or noise control.

1. Purpose-built home office

Life in these pandemic times has led to some lifestyle changes that may only be temporary and some more permanent. One such change that seems to be here to stay is the working from home trend, even if it is just a few days a week. 

Many companies have even started restructuring to accommodate this change – anything that lets you get out of the daily commute has to be a good thing. However, this means that the kitchen table – or a small so-called study room – are probably not going to cut it. When you build your new home, you're going to want a purpose-built office that helps ensure privacy and productivity.

For better productivity, you want to get your lighting right. Skylights, lightwells, clerestory windows or big windows (double, even triple glazed, of course) are necessary. Having your office open onto a private courtyard with a fountain or garden (for the downtime) are also a good idea for when you want to think or take time out. 

Ventilation is essential for productivity and health (build-up of CO2 makes you sleepy). Talk to your architect about what natural ventilation solutions are available for your home office.

Privacy is an essential consideration for a home office as more and more meetings take place via digital platforms. Soundproofing will make a real difference in mitigating disruption. For example, GIB Noise Control comes into its own when the neighbour starts up a lawnmower. Shelving for books and files, which can be recessed to save space, will also help mitigate noise.

2. Higher ceilings

Not many things give a better perception of luxury and success than high ceilings, while also delivering natural light and ventilation. Higher ceilings will cost more, but research suggests that higher ceilings can increase the resale value of your home by up to 25 per cent. 

If your budget is tight, you can always mix and match ceiling heights to reduce costs while at the same time creating different effects to evoke desired feelings like cosiness or grandeur. 

Higher ceilings also give you the scope to play when it comes to interior decor. Suddenly you have an opportunity to play with things like a large stone fireplace, exciting lighting fixtures and different kinds of furniture.

Higher ceilings can also help imbue you with a sense of space, light and airiness, which lifts your mood and gives you a sense of freedom.

3. Smart home future-proofing

In the heady rush of building your dream home, it's easy to forget that we live in the age of the Internet of Things. This is a world in which you can now enjoy smart appliances like fridges and stoves (even coffee makers), intelligent lighting and heating, voice-controlled digital assistants, wireless charging, remote security and even robot cleaners. Never worry again about whether or not you left the stove on or forgot to lock the door front – you can control it all via apps on your smartphone.

If you want a smart home now or later – it is inevitable that all homes will have smarts in the not too distant future – you need to make sure you put the proper infrastructure in place during the design and building stage. By this, we mean plan for your cabling and connection points (including power points) at the start, and consider how the design and layout of the property may aid or obstruct your connectivity.

Talk to Maddren Homes today about how your new build can not only look spectacular but how it can make you feel or function to enhance your in-home experience.